Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam has predicted his team will emerge victorious in a potentially explosive encounter against Australia here on Wednesday (tomorrow), but said that it will have to post a score of around 290 runs at the Centurion Park.
Intikhab told ‘The News’ that another score of around 300 was very much a possibility if his side went on to win the toss and bat first against the Aussies. “It is a realistic score on a pitch that is easing up with each passing day. I think we can manage another 300 against Australia, if Younis goes on to win the toss.”
The last two games at the Centurion Park saw the teams batting first cross the 300-run barrier.Intikhab, however, stressed upon his top players to show the same guts and spirit that was evident from Shoaib Malik and Mohammed Yousuf’s performance against India. “There is a need that one of the top five batsmen goes on to make a hundred. You could only set or chase such a big total if one of your top batsmen plays a big knock.î
Playing a big innings, Intikhab believed was possible both while setting or chasing targets. “I think Pakistan batsmen are capable of doing so on pitches that are becoming batting friendly by each passing day. Centurion pitch is the one which suits our game and hopefully we could see another batting blitz on Wednesday.”
He even predicted that even chasing around 290 would not a big ask for the Pakistan players. “The pitch is behaving well and we are absolutely under no pressure.”Counting Pakistan strength, he said his side has got one of the best bowling resources. “We have got world-class spinners. With the wicket offering spin and bounce to quality spin bowlers at the Centurion Park ground, I think we have got all the chances of giving Australian batsmen a tough time. Both Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal bowled really well against India.”
Intikhab said as things were shaping up, it would not be easy for the Aussies to beat Pakistan. “We would go all out for win against Australia even if they manage to beat India on Monday.”
He declared that Pakistan needed to finish top of Pool A. “We want to win all our games to finish top of our pool. It is a win that we want against Australia and for that every player would put in his best.”
He declared that the critics never had taken Pakistan and England seriously. “Along with England, we started as outsiders. No one was ready to give us a serious thought. Now, Pakistan and England are the only two teams that have made an impact so far.”
Intikhab said it would be too foolish to discard any of the opponents. “It is a tournament where you need to focus on every game. Any one can beat the other team and that is what the outsiders have proved.” To a question on the formation of the Pakistan team for the match against Australia, the coach said they would discuss the team in meeting to be held late on Tuesday (today).
Intikhab told ‘The News’ that another score of around 300 was very much a possibility if his side went on to win the toss and bat first against the Aussies. “It is a realistic score on a pitch that is easing up with each passing day. I think we can manage another 300 against Australia, if Younis goes on to win the toss.”
The last two games at the Centurion Park saw the teams batting first cross the 300-run barrier.Intikhab, however, stressed upon his top players to show the same guts and spirit that was evident from Shoaib Malik and Mohammed Yousuf’s performance against India. “There is a need that one of the top five batsmen goes on to make a hundred. You could only set or chase such a big total if one of your top batsmen plays a big knock.î
Playing a big innings, Intikhab believed was possible both while setting or chasing targets. “I think Pakistan batsmen are capable of doing so on pitches that are becoming batting friendly by each passing day. Centurion pitch is the one which suits our game and hopefully we could see another batting blitz on Wednesday.”
He even predicted that even chasing around 290 would not a big ask for the Pakistan players. “The pitch is behaving well and we are absolutely under no pressure.”Counting Pakistan strength, he said his side has got one of the best bowling resources. “We have got world-class spinners. With the wicket offering spin and bounce to quality spin bowlers at the Centurion Park ground, I think we have got all the chances of giving Australian batsmen a tough time. Both Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal bowled really well against India.”
Intikhab said as things were shaping up, it would not be easy for the Aussies to beat Pakistan. “We would go all out for win against Australia even if they manage to beat India on Monday.”
He declared that Pakistan needed to finish top of Pool A. “We want to win all our games to finish top of our pool. It is a win that we want against Australia and for that every player would put in his best.”
He declared that the critics never had taken Pakistan and England seriously. “Along with England, we started as outsiders. No one was ready to give us a serious thought. Now, Pakistan and England are the only two teams that have made an impact so far.”
Intikhab said it would be too foolish to discard any of the opponents. “It is a tournament where you need to focus on every game. Any one can beat the other team and that is what the outsiders have proved.” To a question on the formation of the Pakistan team for the match against Australia, the coach said they would discuss the team in meeting to be held late on Tuesday (today).
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